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- Year 4 Chrome Book Meeting (Week 5)
- Kinder - Constable Kenny Koala Visit (Week 8)
- Year 6 Confirmation Retreat Day (Week 7)
- Rostrum Quarter Finals (Term 3, Week 1)
- NAIDOC Mass (Term 3, Week 1)
- Kinder Excursion - Matilda at Merici College (Week 3)
- Kinder - Constable Kenny Koala Visit (Week 4)
- Kinder Excursion - Pete the Sheep at the Canberra Theatre (Week 8)
- Maths Olympiad (Selected students years 4-6) (Week 3 & Week 9)
- Community Council Meeting (Week 3 & Week 8)
- Boorowa Carnival (Week 10)
Please go to our school calendar on the website or SZapp for more details.
The school positive behaviour focus during Week 3 is:
Right time, right place, right task.
This week we had a lovely re-connection with St Francis Xavier College.
On Monday, Year 11 students came to work with Year 3 students. They listened to our students read some of their favourite books and talked together about them, helping with their comprehension and encouraging a love of reading.
On Wednesday Year 10 Physical Education students, as a requirement of their coursework, designed and ran small group games for our Year 6 students. There were a number of ex St John the Apostle students who attended. It was lovely to see them again.
Later that day former St John the Apostle teacher, Mrs Melanie Monaghan, brought Year 9 students currently learning about sustainability to help us in our kitchen garden. They were able to complete a few more of the garden beds. We're looking forward to planting next week.
It has been a joy to work again with SFX staff and students. We're very fortunate to have such a close and mutually beneficial relationship between our schools. I'm thankful to the many staff at both schools that make this possible.
NAPLAN
This week concludes the bulk of the NAPLAN assessments for Years 3 and 5 students. I would like to thank our Coordinator Mrs Bree Dess and their teachers for preparing the students, ensuring technology worked smoothly and administering the assessments in a calm and supportive manner. Our students responded very positively.
Journey with Jesus
Yesterday our Year 6 students participated in a Journey with Jesus retreat day ran by our Youth Minister Lachlan Bull and a support team from CSYMA Youth Ministry in our Archdiocese.
Year 6 is a formative time for children. They see that there is no one older than them at school. They have now reached the end of a journey. They have a greater sense of how much they have grown. They understand a little more about responsibility and autonomy and are just beginning to define and then assert their own identity as separate to their family. This is the beginning of a new journey they are about to embark on.
The Journey with Jesus day is an opportunity to celebrate their uniqueness, to be reminded that they are made in the image and likeness of God and to understand that they are loved. It is a day of song, reflection, scripture, story and prayer.
The feedback we received from the team was that our students were outstanding. Thank you to Lachlan and his team for leading our students through the day with such enthusiasm and care.
Late arrivals and early pick ups
A new sign in/out kiosk has been installed in the Front Office as part of a new administration package being implemented across all Catholic schools in our system.
Beginning Monday, if your child arrives to school after the morning assembly has finished they will need to be signed in at the Front Office by a parent/guardian. This will mean finding a park and coming in to the office foyer to sign them in.
Additionally, should they be picked up early for any reason, they will need to be signed out by the attending parent/guardian using the new sign in/out kiosk.
These procedures help schools to meet their requirements for accountability around student attendance and safety.
Year 4 1-to-1 Chromebook launch
This Monday we officially launch our Year 4 1-to-1 Chromebook program for students and families.
The students were introduced to these devices last term. They have been learning how to use them effectively and to use some of the features provided to practice skills and communicate their learning in all curriculum areas.
We would like one parent for every Year 4 student to be present at the meeting.
We look forward to the new and exciting opportunities for our senior students.
Enjoy a restful weekend.
Matthew Garton
Principal
Enrolments for 2022
We are now in the enrolment period for 2022.
If you have a child currently in pre-school and will be enrolling them for Kindergarten then please be sure to do this before 28 May. Please go to our school website to lead you through how to do this or contact Leanne at the Front Office with any questions.
If you have a child in Year 6 and look to enrol them in St Francis Xavier College for Year 7 then you will need to do this by 28 May. Please go to their website for all of the information you need.
NAPLAN
This week our Year 3 and Year 5 students participated in NAPLAN. Each student has given their best effort and we are all very proud of them. The four tests they completed were:
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- Reading
- Writing
- Language Conventions
- Numeracy
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What is NAPLAN?
"As children progress through their school years, it is very important that checks are made along the way to see how well they are learning the essential skills of reading, writing and mathematics – skills that will set them upon the path to success as adults.
NAPLAN is a point-in-time assessment that allows parents to see how their child is progressing in literacy and numeracy against the national standard and compared with their peers throughout Australia. At the classroom level, NAPLAN provides additional information to support teachers’ professional judgement about student progress" (NAPLAN, 2016).
Further information can be found at: https://www.nap.edu.au/naplan/parent-carer-support
Belconnen Region Cross Country Carnival
Yesterday notes for the Belconnen Region Cross Country Carnival were handed out to the first 5 place holders (girls and boys) in their age group to attend the Belconnen Region Cross Country. The carnival will take place on Wednesday, 26 May.
A reminder about NCCD
If you have any questions about the NCCD please do not hesitate to contact me at rebekah.brown@cg.catholic.edu.au
Rebekah Brown
Assistant Principal and Inclusion Coordinator
Yesterday our Year Six students participated in the Journey with Jesus retreat. We were thrilled to have wonderful feedback about their high level of engagement and their beautiful manners with the leaders.
Here are some reflections from the kids.
Koby - I think it taught us about how Jesus died for us.
Tilly - There was role play and it showed us how Jesus gave love but if don’t share it it gets smaller.
Evie - They had a backpack and they put in a water bottle (everylasting love), torch (guide you), first aid kit (to repair your mistakes).
Jacob - Taught us that no matter what we do, good or bad, that Jesus loves and he cares for us.
Catholic Life and Reflection
So this weekend we are going to celebrate the commitment my mother has to family and her strength of faith that carries her through her life.
God bless, to all the mothers in our lives.
“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come. She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.” – Proverbs 31:25-28
God bless you all,
Stephanie Stewart
Religious Education Coordinator
Notices from the Parish
Happy birthday to Duoot A, Zella K, Evelina N and Te-Aroha B who all celebrated a birthday over the past week.
Please note that we ask students to not bring home made cupcakes to share with the class for their birthdays. This is a precautionary measure for health and hygiene. The Canteen offers a number of options to share with the class. Purchases can be made through the QKR app.
Congratulations to the following students who will receive an award for the fortnightly Positive Behaviour Focus at next week's assembly.
| Class | ||
| KB | Piper A | Kristiano J |
| KM | Reedhee P | Zakary S |
| 1B | Marian L | Jackson M |
| 1M | Jenson C | Skyla P |
| 2B | Isabelle J | Alana S |
| 2M | Zain G | Thomasina N |
| 3B | Liliana G | Ky M |
| 3M | Emily T | Keijo K |
| 4B | Ngawang C | Joshua W |
| 4M | Eva G | Erin V |
| 5B | Alexis B | Adelaide N |
| 5M | Claire B | Otis H |
| 6B | Natalie S | Diamond M |
| 6M | ||
| Sustainability (K-2) | Thomas A | Vincent N |
| Sustainability (3-6) |
SCHOOL FEES
School fees are due next Friday 21st May, unless paying by direct debit. If you are paying by direct debit please ensure the amount you pay will cover your fees for the year. All fees are required to be paid in full by the end of the school year.
If you need to discuss your fees please contact Debbie Milne (finance officer) either via email finance.sjaps@cg.catholic.edu.au or phone 6258 3592.
Working days are Monday – Thursday 8am – 3:30pm.
BUILDING FUND
The Canberra Catholic Schools Building Fund (CCSBF) is a tax-deductible contribution, collected on behalf of the Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn (CE), and is used to pay for insurances, inspections, major works and regular maintenance of all systemic Catholic schools, eg broken windows, plumbing and electrical work. This family levy is controlled and coordinated by CE and is collected by the systemic school which the eldest child attends.
The Building Fund is a voluntary contribution; however, I cannot impress upon families enough, the importance of all families supporting it in order for all Catholic systemic schools, including St John’s, have access to funds for major maintenance or building works as necessary.
Please consider this carefully before electing not to pay the building fund.
Our Clothing Pool is changing its name to the Uniform Shop to better reflect the service that it provides to the school community. As we reach another milestone in the uniform transition, we are excited to announce that the new Winter Sport Shirts have arrived and are ready for sale.
The new Winter Sports Shirts are available through the QKR app by selecting 'order for delivery' which will be sent to your child's classroom. You can come in to St John's new-look Uniform Shop during opening times (Fridays, 8:30-9:30am) to make an on the spot purchase. All backorders have been delivered to classrooms.
We thank you again for your patience while we gradually introduce new uniform items as they become available from the supplier. Please email the Uniform Shop at stjohnsclothingpool@gmail.com if you have any issues with your orders.
Parenting for emotionally healthy kids
Most people steer clear from using destructive, toxic parenting strategies for fear of raising dysfunctional, emotionally unhealthy adults. Living vicariously through your kids or using fear to gain obedience are the types of strategies most parents avoid. So, what behaviours can parents practise that will help their kids function well, relate well to others and reach emotional maturity in adulthood? These behaviours will help your lay the foundation for your child to become an emotionally healthy adult.
Helping kids tolerate discomfort
While you don’t need to expose kids to pain just for the purpose of toughening them up, you don’t need to shield them from discomfort. Missing being picked for a team, a friend moving away and sitting a test that makes them nervous are the types of situations that reflect real adult-life. Providing children and young people with exposure to such experiences and giving them coping strategies such as positive distraction builds their resilience, which is essential for success and good mental acuity.
Validating their feelings
Telling kids to stop worrying or stop crying sends a message that emotions are bad. It teaches them to hide their emotions or fight their feelings. Similarly applying the terms ‘good’ or ‘bad’ to emotions sends a message that some emotions are not acceptable. The use of terms ‘pleasant’ and ‘unpleasant’ when discussing emotions is non-judgemental and shows your acceptance of all feelings. Let kids know through your language and behaviour that all emotions are a natural part of life, and that they provide important information to help them navigate their world. “Ahh! I see you feel upset about this” is the type of statement kids want to hear particularly when feelings are negative.
Letting kids live their own life
Parents have unrealised dreams as well as unhealed emotional scars. It can be tempting to put your own emotions onto your child or steer them away from areas of life that caused you pain. This practice places enormous pressure on children and restricts them from developing their own sense of self that comes from making your own life choices and living with the consequences. Kids require a certain amount of emotional space to develop their own interests and strengths that may be at odds with your expectations, which can be challenging when parenting small families.
Being emotionally available
One of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects of parenting is sharing a child or young person’s emotional burdens. Supporting a child who is sad, or helping a young person manage disappointment is draining emotional labour, requiring your full attention. Supporting, coaching and coaxing kids when they are down is when parents do some of their most important work.
In closing
Raising children and young people to reach emotional maturity is an often (unintentionally) neglected part of parenting. By paying attention to their emotions and responding positively rather than shutting them down when their emotions get the better of them you will help lay the foundation to live healthy, balanced lives.
Michael Grose
Michael Grose, founder of Parenting Ideas, is one of Australia’s leading parenting educators. He’s an award-winning speaker and the author of 12 books for parents including Spoonfed Generation, and the bestselling Why First Borns Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It. Michael is a former teacher with 15 years experience, and has 30 years experience in parenting education. He also holds a Master of Educational Studies from Monash University specialising in parenting education.
